Science and technology

Google Glass

Sightseeing trips

LAST year Google whet the appetites of geeks everywhere when it announced that it had developed Google Glass, a pair of web-connected smart glasses that could take photos and videos, and display information gleaned from the internet. The firm said it would launch a public trial of the voice-controlled specs with a small group of developers early in 2013. On February 20th it announced that it now wants a broader group of people to join the developers peering into the future using its new technology.

The company has launched a website for folk who want to apply to test the Explorer trial version of its glasses and who are willing to cough up $1,500 for the privilege of having them. It has also posted a video (see below) that shows how the specs can be used in various situations, including navigating on a road and taking photos of memorable moments. Data and images are displayed on a tiny screen that appears at the top of a person’s field of vision. This is mounted in a flexible frame that also incorporates a camera, a microphone and a computer.

Although its new gadget is still in its early stages and has plenty of room for improvement (not least in the design of the bulky arm that houses its battery), Google is clearly hoping that a broader field test will help it to iron out imperfections faster, as well as stoke interest in the device. It says it is looking for a diverse group of guinea pigs willing to share their experiences with the gizmo via social media.

The web giant's move is another sign that the nascent market for wearable technology is developing fast. Other companies such as Japan’s Olympus are also experimenting with smart goggles and there is much interesting work being done to shrink displays even further, as Babbage has noted elsewhere. There has also been plenty of action recently in the market for smart watches that link wirelessly to people’s smartphones. Rumours have been flying that Apple and Samsung are working on web-connected timepieces and Google has also filed a patent that suggests its Glass technology could be used on wrists too. Small start-ups such as Pebble are busily churning out smart watches as fast as they can. All of this is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

you seriously have problems if you want to walk past any person and read their biography and their nickname, i did not read the rest because you obviously have serious problems and would like to live in the novel "1984".. dont be evil google, dont be evil

Yeah, a hundred of people yelling to their glasses in the subway will be much more fun.
An I'll still trust myself more than a self-driving car. But if all cars are self-drived, interconnected and infrastructures had been improved for them. Maybe in 100th years when only ultra-rich could afford one.

you seriously have problems if you want to walk past any person and read their biography and their nickname, i did not read the rest because you obviously have serious problems and would like to live in the novel "1984".. dont be evil google, dont be evil

Can't wait. People look like weird monkeys with smartphones...heads tilted downward like ugly birds, oblivious to their surroundings, walking into people and walls.

Smartphones have really displayed how dumb humans are. Everyone tap-tap-tapping on their phones. Look up! Look around you! That's why I want Google Glass. So that people stop looking like a bunch of retarded, smart-phone addicted monkeys...nearly causing car accidents and such.

Moreover, Google needs to hurry up with those self-driving cars. Why car companies don't take the lead...I don't know. Probably because they are stupid and can't innovate. Seriously, the auto-industry is stale. They only make money because of planned obsolescence and our need for new cars. Someone should kill auto companies and have Tesla and Google run everything.

Oh yeah, we need self-driving cars ASAP. I'm tired of putting my time and safety in the hands of humans (slightly smarter monkeys).

It seems the Google glasses perform like a wearable camera and video recorder...not really a computer.
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I would like an augmented reality device that is able to:

-Identify random people on the street by cross referencing face matches and give you a name, nickname, short or extensive biograph, address and links to social media, txt and blogs.
-Show x-rays views of buildings including where the elevators are, where people are, if your boss is in, if your package arrived on your desk, and in an emergency how to exit the building.
-Show how to do novel tasks like reverse engineer and explain how to drive a stick shift, bake a cake, or how to do CPR.
-While driving highlight high risky drivers in real time, like teens, elderly, txt messaging drivers and swerving drunks. Be able to inform police with location and direction by voice command.
-How to carry on a conversation in foreign language that you are unfamiliar with, in real time screen txt translation and pronunciation guide for appropriate responses.
-Be able to diagnose human moods, weakness and lying.
-Telescopic vision
-Identify a product by sight. Give summary of consumer tips and highlight strengths and shortcomings. Give comparative retail prices at rival and web based stores.
-Let you know if a bus is late, plane is late, or traffic jam far in advance of a traffic snarl. Advise short cuts or plan delays.
-Allow 3D satellite views of your street while you are walking them.
-Instant analysis of a food dish for calories, fat, protein and fiber. Also able to reconstruct or search for a recipe based on the image of the food.
-Be able to identify any piece of art, artist, historical facts, and critical reviews within seconds. The same with architecture, fashion or performances like symphonies.
-Night time infrared image enhancement.
-Be able to see who is packing a gun or weapon; important to law enforcement officers.
-Highlight historical sites and interesting facts as you walk down a street. And knows where to find a great Thai cafe.
-Be able to navigate a new city like a native within minutes of landing.
-Be able to play back any movie in the past 100 years with 3D enhancement and stereo sound.
-Be able to play any music in the past 100 years by voice command.
-Be able to play back any conversation that you have encountered in the past 24 hours.
-Be able to keep track of phone, txting and social media without being too distracted.
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This Google device is too limited and uninspired.

You trust yourself over a self-driving car? Why? Virtually every accident you will ever get into is the result of your poor [human] response time to somebody else or human error on your part. There's a reason we use computers to guide planes, missiles, spaceships, the entire financial system, etc. They don't mess up; program them to do something and they will do exactly that.

People said the same thing every time we used technology to simplify and improve old technology, and they've been wrong every single time.

I can't wait until computers and robots replace my doctor, lawyer, financial adviser, and everything else I consider essential to my life. At least that way I know the advice I'm given is objective and based on the entirety of human knowledge, not on the limitations of one individual with an extremely limited capacity.

Some of the more innovative retail outfits (or hip ones with customer segments likely to us Glass), should probably start thinking about implications for instore experiences, virtual/endless aisles, relevant ecommerce assets to bring to bear.
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Conversely, they may want to think about the downside, with instore windowshopping, oneline bargain hunting via Glass, other challenges.
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All kind of an extension to smartphones/mobiles devices of today...

you seriously have problems if you want to walk past any person and read their biography and their nickname, i did not read the rest because you obviously have serious problems and would like to live in the novel "1984".. dont be evil google, dont be evil